Written by guest Pearl Bensimoun Bonnets and Sonnets produces high-quality custom bonnets at an affordable price. The bonnets are fully customizable, from colors to pattern to sizing. There is definitely something for everyone! You can even get your bonnets monogrammed, adding a personalized touch. The bonnets are hand-made in the USA. The "Standard Bonnet" starts at $35, and includes a gorgeous black or navy base and choice of edge colors. You can add on satin or "bling" trim, throat latch loops, custom base colors, and so many more! For each add-on, it usually runs about $5 extra. I received a "Standard Bonnet" in navy with white piping, and a P&P(Ponies & Parlantis) Monogram in white, which was subtly tucked away on the side of the ear. The bonnet looked absolutely stunning on my bay gelding. In addition to the looks and class of the Bonnets and Sonnets products, they also hold up very well during your rides. Unlike many bonnets, they stay down a good majority of the time and don't flap around. They also are stitched with precision, with not a flaw to be found. Overall, I am super pleased with the bonnet, and highly recommend ordering from Bonnets and Sonnets. To place and order, you can email [email protected], or simply DM them on Instagram(@bonnets_and_sonnets).
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Written by guest Pearl Bensimoun Arion & Jack sells apparel for riders and horses. Named after two horses with tons of personality, their apparel has a little bit of a twist on every product. From saddle pads to jewelry to clothing for riders, there is truly something for everyone. I received the "Grand Prix Custom Saddle Pad" and it is honestly one of my favorite pads, to say the least. My pad came in the "Stars and Stripes" print, which clashed well with my bay jumper. You can customize the saddle pads however you'd like, from the color of the body of the pad, to stripes and trims! The material of the pads offer comfort for your horses. Made of cotton and cotton quilted white flannel, the saddle pads have a more of a "squishier" feel to them, instead of your average baby pad. The "Grand Prix Custom Saddle Pads" are easy keepers, machine washable and made in the U.S.A., they are overall amazing quality pads. I have used the pad for a few rides already, and it has stood up to the heat, my horse's sweat, and dirt. On top of the phenomenal quality, they are absolutely gorgeous! The brand notes that "you and your horse will look and feel so good wearing this pad you'll think you're riding in a Grand Prix," (hence the name). This statement is most definitely true! All in all, I highly recommend the Grand Prix Custom Saddle Pads from Arion and Jack. They hold up well, are easy to care for, and look great on horses of every color! Be sure to check out Arion and Jack on Instagram, @arionandjack, and their website here. Written by guest Sydney Flashman
There’s really only one way to put it: if you’re a pony kid, you know about Pony Finals. For ponies,it’s the biggest show of the year, where hundreds of four legged equines under 14.3 hands travel from all over the country to compete at the Lexington Horse Park in the United States National Pony Finals. Riders with big names, little girls in their first year of the Smalls, and everything in between show up, dying to win one of the coveted titles at the finals, whether it be Grand Pony Hunter Champion, US Pony Jumper National Champion, or United States Marshall and Sterling Pony Medal winner. The winners of these titles become sort of celebrities: articles are published in a variety of well established horse show magazines, pictures published in varying media types, and thousands of little equestrians following their every move, liking their every Instagram picture, dreaming of being just like them when they grow up. But Pony Finals doesn’t start when your mount sets its first hoof in the well-known Walnut and Alltech rings-- not even close. There are weeks, months, years of preparation, thousands of lessons, hundreds of falls, and yes, the stereotypical blood, sweat, and tears. Naturally, not everybody’s journey to Pony Finals is the same, each one unique in its own special way, and mine was no different. This year will be my third year competing at the prestigious finals, but my first time representing Zone 10 in the jumper division. Coming off of last year’s finals, I felt pretty good--I had earned eighth place in the Large Green Pony Model and tenth place overall-- and was, of course, already looking forward to coming back to the horse park in 2016 for another year. I never imagined that a year later, I would be preparing my Belgian Jumping Pony for her first time at the horse park. And while every journey to Lexington’s famous horse park is different, they all start the same way: getting your pony. After I returned from last year’s Pony Finals, my trainers, David and Caroline Sterckx, spoke with my parents in a special, private meeting. I had no idea what was going on, no idea that they were showing my parents a video of Karamel, a beautiful bay mare who was competing in the 1.25 meter divisions in Belgium easily, clearing the huge jumps with no problem. In fact, I didn’t find out until the middle of September, after my parents, grandparents, and a multitude of other relations decided to do their bests to get me my little mare. When I found out, I think I deafened the entire neighborhood with my celebration-- I was very excited. And one vet check and a few weeks later, my pony was stepping her dainty little hooves onto an airplane, ready to fly to her new home in California. The two weeks of quarantine that Karamel was forced to sit through seemed more like two years, but finally, in the beginning of November late on a Friday night, my pony arrived, and my road to Pony Finals began. Let me just say this-- the beginning was not easy. Sometimes, when moving from one mount to the next, the adaptation is smooth, easy to manage. Mine was not. Karamel was nothing like any pony I’d ever ridden before, and there were multiple panicky spook and bolts, a lot of really ugly distances, and a fall or two before we reached our first show, a Verdugo Hills show in Sylmar, California, where my pony and I competed against my barn mates and future teammates Avery Kim and Tabitha Okitsu in our first Pony Jumper class, held at 1.05 meters. There, again, was one panicky spook and bolt and a couple of ugly distances, but we ended up winning our first class. However, we still had our issues. Problems that would take months to surmount, some of which I’m not totally positive I’ve been able to get over, even at this point. Thousands of lessons, hundreds of horrible distances, sweat, blood, and tears. That should be the motto for my journey this year. But for every bad lesson, there was a good one, for every ugly distance, there was a good one, and for every bad round, there was a win, a new achievement, something good. And now I’m here, the Monday before I leave for Pony Finals 2016. Typing this, reminiscing, thinking about how much help I’ve been given, (shoutout to my trainers, my parents, Sophie St. Clair & Stephanie Don for all your help, just a few among a thousand people who deserve thanks) and generally being a mess of excitement, fear, apprehension, terror, impatience, and a thousand other emotions. Looking at the calendar taped up on my door. My pony begins her physical journey to Kentucky in three days. I begin mine in six. Pony Finals 2k16, here we come. Fourteen year old Abby Biter from Sarasota, Florida has been very successful in the Large Green Pony Hunters with her pony, as well as the children's hunters with her horse. Her and her sister together own four horses, two who are ponies. "I really appreciate the bond that riders create with their horses and how the horse learns to trust the rider so he/she does things at the last moment like leaving really long," responded Biter when asked what she appreciates most in the sport. "I love the horses and how the barn becomes your family. Everyone I meet on the road is so nice." Biter looks up to Gia Rinaldi because she gets a lot of catch rides and is an amazing rider. Her favorite place to show is TIEC because "it's amazing and beautiful and compact but spacey." Her goal for this show year is to learn to trust her eye and use what her trainer tells her to help her in the show ring. Biter got into riding and showing because she's always loved horses and her parents owned horses when she was younger. She does online school so she can be on the road 24/7. Biter's advice to anyone who's goal is to be as successful in the show ring as she is, is to "listen to your trainer and try your hardest." She noted that one of her biggest accomplishments was ribboning 6th in her first derby, When asked what her goals are for the near future, Biter responded that she wants to become a better rider and get more catch rides. "I want people to know my name." In the long run, she has hopes of riding in the Olympics. Hailey Johns is a fifteen year old equitation rider from Indiana. She currently owns one hoses, Conaro, an eight year old Holsteiner gelding. "He was imported from Germany as a jumper prospect in 2014. I have been riding him for about a year now and he showed in the 1.30 jumpers before I got him. I show him in the big equitation classes. Conroe has handles the transition to the equitation ring beautifully and I couldn't be happier with him! I am also beyond grateful and lucky to have many riding opportunities within my barn. Everyone at home is extremely kind and supportive and it has allowed me to ride a lot of wonderful and talented different horses. It has helped my riding tremendously and I am so thankful for it!" Johns trains with Katie Kappler at Katie Kappler LLC out of Always Faithful Stables. "I started riding just before I turned 4. No one really knows why I wanted to start, or how I even got the idea, but I woke up from a nap & pronounced that "I was born for horses & horses were born for me!" My mom found a barn for me to ride at that day & about a month later, I ended up in a traditional, competitive hunter jumper program. I have been hooked from that point on & haven't turned back!" Her favoriting thing about riding and showing is being around the horses! "It is such a privilege to share time with these exceptional creatures." When asked if she sees herself being around horses forever, and having a career based around them, Johns responded that she can definitely see herself spending time around and riding horses for the rest of her life. "I am not sure what career path I will take yet, but horses will always be a huge part of my life." "I have been extremely lucky throughout my career thus far. I have only ridden with a handful of trainers in my 11 years, but they have all been wonderful in different ways. All of the extraordinary horses & trainers I have had the pleasure of working with throughout my riding have gotten me to where I am today. My parents have also been extremely supportive throughout my riding, allowing me to continue to improve & move up in the ranks. I am so grateful for the foundation that I got with Mara Glunz at my initial barn, where I rode for 8 years. The classical hunter jumper ways & horsemanship I learned there stick with me wherever I go. In between Mara's program & my current barn I rode at Judgement Farms, where I was very fortunate to have a wonderful children's hunter, The Best Man. For the past year & a half, I have been riding with Katie Kappler at KKLLC! It is a perfect fit for me. I love the atmosphere, training & the whole team! Katie has not only taken my riding to completely new levels, she has found me the best partner I could have dreamed of, Conaro. She has such a wonderful eye for pairing horses & riders & is truly exceptional when it comes to the training. Katie & her carefully selected team have taken my career to the next level in such a short time. I am so grateful for the opportunity to ride & show with KKLLC. They have really gotten me to the point I'm at now." "This year, my main goal was to move up to the big equitation, which I did at WEF. Now that I have accomplished that, I am working towards more consistency in the ring & qualifying for Maclay regionals! In the long term, I hope to find success in the big equitation & get as much in the ring experience as possible on as many horses as possible!" Johns looks up to Laura Bowden Steffe. "She won USEF Medal Finals in 1991 on Double Murmur, a horse that she made. She did all of the work herself & trailered from show to show following Geoff Teall. She has proven that you don't need an infinite budget to be competitive at the highest levels of the sport." Her advice to anyone who has hopes of showing as much as she does is to "develop relationships, build a positive relationship for yourself, and gladly take any opportunities that come your way! Having a solid group of supporters & people who want to help you is a huge part of it. If you are always working hard & projecting positivity & happiness, people will notice & opportunities will eventually come your way! Also, it is important to remember that this sport is one of personal best. Comparing yourself to others & becoming overly competitive won't get you anywhere. Working towards your goals & appreciating the small victories as you work for the bigger ones is what will get you where you want to be!" Written by guest Pearl Bensimoun A and A Aromas specializes in custom equestrian soy candles that come in many different scents. What makes A and A Aromas unique from any other candle company out there, is that they sell equestrian scented candles. As an equestrian, I know I absolutely love the familiar scents from around the barn. The candles are hand crafted in the USA and come in so many different scents. You can even create your own! The pre-made candle scents that are available include "Horse Show Mornings", "All About Apples", "Vanilla Citronella", "Finn's Favorites", "Pasture", "Peppermint Kiss", "Morning Meadow", "Carter's Clover", "Good Luck Charm", and several others, I received two candles from A and A Aromas that I love! They came in two different sizes, one in a large candle and one in a smaller candle. The smaller candle was "Pony Picnic", and the larger candle was "Horse Show Mornings". They were packaged carefully with packing peanuts and adorable pink tissue. They even included a sweet handwritten note! The candles themselves are adorable, and come in mason jars with bows on them. The candles' wick is very strong, and doesn't fall apart right after, like many other candles. The scent spreads very quickly, and is present in the air without being too overwhelming or sweet. After a few uses, they still look great, which is very rare for most candles! The candles look great placed anywhere. The scent "Horse Show Mornings" brings the familiar smell of coffee and waking up at the crack of dawn for horse shows into your home. The coffee scent smells great! This scent is available in a 12 oz candle or a 22 oz candle. The scent "Pony Picnic" is a sweet smelling lemon and apple candle. It almost smells like sweet feed! You can smell the lemon, without it being too sour. This scent is available in an 8 oz candle. All in all, I highly recommend A & A Aromas for amazing-smelling equestrian scented candles. They are of great quality, and definitely will last for quite a few burnings. Make sure to give them a follow on Instagram @a.a.aromas and check out their website here! Written by guest Caroline McCoy
The Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Cannes, presented by Haras des Grillons, is an extraordinary equestrian event that is a regular fixture to the Tour. Held through June 9-11th, thousands of visitors flocked to see the daring feats of international show jumping. The biggest attraction, however, was the Cannes 2016 CSI5* 1.60m, which started at 8:30 (USA, Los Angeles Time) on Saturday, June 11th. This class had Two Rounds with Jump-Off, 1st and 2nd Round Against the Clock. Uliano Vezzani, the course designer, set a massive 1.60m Grand Prix round with tall verticals, gaping overs, tight rollbacks, and tricky lines. Each fence required an experienced eye and ultimate precision as the horse-and-rider combination jumped their way through the course. Only eight jumped clear, with the other ten accumulating time faults or knocking rails to make up the eighteen going into the second round. The second track rode more straightforward, due to the fact that there were three double combinations in contrast to the triple combination in the first round. Many riders rode excellent rounds and kept poles up, but only the top four riders could advance to the jump-off. Two new fences were added along with some tight turns and concluding with the Longines double, followed by the final over and across the finish line. The first rider, France’s Roger-Yves Bost on Sangria Du Coty , produced a spectacular clear of 40.52s, which delighted the home crowd. Next at the gate, Germany’s Daniel Deusser and Equita Van’t Zorgvliet barely passed Bost with a time of 39.32 seconds. Edwina Tops-Alexander and her spunky mare Lintea Tequila twisted and used her supreme agility to slip into the lead with a time of 38.67s. Last, but certainly not least, Scott Brash and Hello Forever skillfully maneuvered the tricky course with a blazing time of 37.98s. As the pair nailed the distance to the final fence, the crowd were on their feet applauding the brilliant round. Tops-Alexander described her second place finish as “Going to the second fence I saw the distance that I needed, which is what Scott had, and I just couldn’t get it, I gave as much as possible but I knew when I came out that it wasn’t enough – he’d have had to have had one down for me to end up winning. He deserved it, he gave maximum effort today.” The 2012 Olympic gold medalist, Scott Brash, now sits 22nd with 64.00 total points. The top three LGCT Riders are Christian Ahlmann with 209.00 points, Edwina Tops-Alexander with 143.00 points, and Bertram Allen with 132.00 points. Next in this star studded Grand Prix Tour, Monaco Event 9 is a highly anticipated event on June 24th-26th. Stay tuned for results. See globalchampionstour.com for rankings, photos, dates, and more concerning the LGCT. Written by guest Olivia Markwood
Just a few weeks ago, I attended a Bernie Traurig clinic about two hours away from my barn. It was my second time off of the property with my new horse, Idalgo, and my first clinic with such a well known and respected host. As soon as my plans to go became official, I started preparing myself. To my surprise, I learned a lot from binge watching Equestrian Coach videos on YouTube. After learning more about Bernie from that, I prepared an answer to every possible question he could ask me about my tack and bit. My flat hacks got more intense and I even practiced some stirrupless cavaletti (very rare for me). Eventually, it was clinic day. I got to the barn at 7:00am to load Idalgo. When we arrived, I put him into a stall, tacked up, and then headed out to the ring. After tightening my girth and fussing with his curb, I hopped on. The 17.2 hand view was much better and just high enough that I could see Bernie Traurig. I stared at him while fumbling with my reins. The legend was less than fifteen feet from me!! He gave a friendly smile and I shyly waved. A staff member of the clinic helped me get a headset and microphone on. No, it did not stay on, and yes, most of my ride consisted of me tucking the earpieces back into my helmet. For the beginning half of the ride, I stayed quiet and was afraid of annoying the other exhibitors. After the two hours though, all six of us riders and Bernie joked around and were much more comfortable asking questions. The clinic was very relaxed and Bernie was incredibly helpful and made sure each horse and rider team had one-on-one exercise which worked on the problems he had noticed in each of us. The Bernie Traurig clinic was an unforgettable experience and I honestly had the best ride of my life that day. I could say endless great things about Bernie. Once again, thank you Equestrian Coach, and Bernie Traurig for teaching all of us so much. Written by guest Isabella Anderson Tara Kiwi, founded by an equestrian enthusiast in Los Angeles, is a small equestrian business who ties together modern designs and high quality material to create some of the most adorable shirts! Tara Kiwi designs shirts for women, children, and babies, and also makes scarves! The quality of the shirts as well as the sophisticated designs makes Tara Kiwi one of our favorite companies! The "Gaits of the Horse" tee is such a simple yet unique tee. The design features horse silhouettes in navy on a light blue background, and the material is very soft. The horse silhouettes feature horses going through all the motions of the walk, trot, canter, and gallop to create this adorable tee. The material is so soft and feels great to ride in, wear around town, or at home. The shirt pairs perfectly with my R.J Classics Gulf Breeches in grey, and my Boy O Boy Bridleworks belt for the cutest "around the barn" look. In addition to the navy horses on light blue, the shirt also comes in red with white silhouettes. The Gaits of the Horse Tee also comes in kids sizes, and the kid's version features 4 other colors! I, who fits well in TK kids size 12, fit well in a Ladies small! (The Adult version comes in a size S, M, L, and XL) The Boot and Helmet wreath tee is also another one of many stunning Tara Kiwi shirts and designs. This tee is pink with a dark pink/red wreath and a helmet and boot inside of it. The material in this shirt is also made of the same Organic cotton, a soft, breathable material that feels amazing! This shirt pairs perfectly with a black or brown belt, as well as another shade of pink, and looks great with my Tailored Sportsman breeches as well as my Claudia Anderson Designs breeches. It comes in the sizes 2, 4, 6, 8, and 12. If you fit into a size 12, it is likely that a ladies small will also fit you if you are looking at another design from the Adult section! Tara Kiwi is the perfect company to turn to if you are looking for another adorable tee to ride in, or just something you want to go out in or stay at home on a lazy day. The quality is amazing and the designs are stunning! Be sure to stop by tarakiwi.com to shop and purchase your next shirt, or if you know any young equestrians, Tara Kiwi is the perfect gift! Written by guest Pearl Bensimoun As equestrians, we all are familiar with the struggle of trying to find a fly mask that protects against flys and infections, but also is durable and has UV protections. Luckily enough, Prestige Masks has all of the above integrated into their amazing collection of fly masks. In addition to all of these features, it is the longest lasting horse fly mask on the market. Prestige Masks are also veterinarian approved and handcrafted in the USA. The durability of these masks is honestly amazing. My horse usually tears or somehow breaks his fly masks within days of getting a new one, not with Prestige Masks though! He, surprisingly enough, has not been able to tear this fly mask whatsoever. Besides the dirt on it(which can be washed off in the machine), this mask looks as good as new still. You can definitely be confident when buying a Prestige Mask, as they come with a two year warranty and have reports of fly masks lasting two to three years. Prestige Masks are available in a wide variety of different sizes to make sure it is a perfect fit for your horse! My Selle Français fits into a large wide with comfort room. The masks also have three adjustable fastenings to make it even more comparable for your horse, rather than just one. What I find very unique about Prestige fly masks is that they feature several "patches" to protect your horse. There is a forehead patch which works as a visor almost. There are also side patches that protect your horses eyes against dust and bacteria. My horse is prone to eye infections, but they have significantly reduced his infections in just a little under a week. Of course, Prestige fly masks works very well against annoying flys. All in all, Prestige Masks are the best quality fly masks I have ever come across. I highly recommend purchasing a fly mask from Prestige Masks. I found that their sizing runs very "true to size", but has a handy measuring guide so you can easily size your horse. Be sure to give them a follow on Instagram @prestige_masks, and check out their website here. |
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September 2016
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